Railroad-crossing



(No Model.)

0. R. & H. JOHNSON.

RAILROAD CROSSING. No. 356,364.

Patented Jan. 18, 1 887.

\mewre'ks N CHHRLES R JOHNSON.

\Awmssas.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. JOHNSON, OF ALLEGHENY, AND HENRY JOHNSON, OF PITTS- BURG,PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-CROSSING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356.364, dated January18, 1887.

Application filed November-2, 1886. Serial No. 217,847. (No model.) 1

road-rossings, of which improvements the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings,which make a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a top plan view of a railroad-grade crossing embodying ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, the sectionbeing taken on the line at m, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar toFig. 2, showing modifications of our invention.

It has heretofore been customary in forming railroad-grade crossings tounite the main and guard rails and the filling-pieces together in properrelation to each other by means of bolts. In such a construction andarrangement of parts, however, a great deal of annoyance and troublehave been experienced by the shearing off of the connecting-bolts by thecreeping of the main rails-a movement well known to railroadoperators-caused by the movement of trains.

The object of the invention herein is to provide a lock to secure themain rails to the filling-blocks as against longitudinal movement of therails, independent of the bolts, and thereby relieving the latter of anytransverse strains or shearing action; and to this end the inventionconsists in the construction and combination of parts, substantially ashereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the practice of our invention the main rails 1 and guard-rails 2 arearranged in the usual manner, filling-blocks 3, which may be made inone, two, or more pieces, being arranged, as usual, between the main andguard rails at the points of intersection of the latter. It hasgenerally been customary to cause the upper and under sides of thefilling-pieces to conform to the inclined under and upper surfaces oftheheads and flanges of the guard and main rails; but this we considerbad practice,

side of the rail-head are planed level, as shown at 4, Fig. 2, for adistance from the ends of the rail equal to the length of thefilling-blocks, which are made plain or straight on their under anduppersides, so as to fit the leveled 6o "portions of the rails, andthereby avoiding any spreading action by the blocks when struck by theflanges of car-wheels.

In order to lock the main rails as against longitudinal movement, slotsare'cut in the webs of the rails, as shown in Fig. 2, andcorrespondingly-located recesses are formed in the filling-pieces, asshown, and into the slots and recesses, which are in line with eachother when the filling-blocks and rails are in position, are placedlocks or keys 5, said keys being constructed to fit comparatively tight1n slots and recesses. The rails, filling-blocks, and bracingcorner-frames 6 are secured together by bolts 7, passing throughsuitable holes in said parts, the holes in the main rails 1 beingslightly enlarged, so that the sides thereof will not bend or bear uponthe bolts. The blocks 5 will effectually prevent any longitudinalmovement of the rails independent of the fllling-blocks,which, in theform shown, are prevented from moving by the arms at angles to the onelooked to the main rail.

In lieu of forming recesses in the fillingblocks for the reception ofthe ends of the keys 5, said keys may be formed integral with thefilling-block s, as will be readily understood, and in case thefilling-blocks should be made in several pieces, as is sometimes thepractice, the recesses may be extended entirely through such blocks,forming slots therethrongh, and slots formed in the web of theguard-rail, in which case the keys are made of snfficient length toextend through the blocks and into the slots in the webs of the 5 guardand main rails. This construction serves to lock the filling-blocks asagainst any movement except in eonneetiolhvith both the guard and mainrails.

We claim herein as our invention 1. In a railroadgrade crossing, thecombination of the rails included in such crossing, filling-blocksarranged between said rails, and keys or blocks forlocking thefilling-blocks and rails together as against independent longitndinalmovement, substantially as set forth.

2. In a railroad-grade crossing, the combination of the main rails, thefilling-blocks, and keys or blocks engaging said rails and fillingblocksandlocking them together as against independent longitudinal movement,substantially as set forth.

3. In a railroad-grade crossing, the combination of the main railshaving their webs slotted. as described, the filling-blocks havingrecesses in line with said slots, and keys or blocks fitting in saidrecesses and slots and locking the rails and filling-blocks together asagainst independent longitudinal movement, substantially as set forth.

4. In a railroad-grade crossing, the combination of the main and guardrails having the under sides of the heads and the upper sides of thei 1'adjacent flanges flattened, as described, and filling-blocks havingtheir upper and under sides correspondingly shaped,substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

CHARLES R. JOHNSON. HENRY JOHNSON. Witnesses:

R. H. WHrr'rLEsnY, DARWIN S. VV0Loo'r'r.

